Pages

Friday, June 25, 2010

A Video And A Birthday Request

My dearest readers,

My birthday is on Monday. I'm turning 28 on the 28th. Last year was the best birthday I've had since I was little, when my mom used to bake my birthday cakes. This year will be different, since it will be my first birthday out of New York City in five years! I'm still adjusting to the move (and I've appreciated all your comments and support), and am just beginning to feel like a normal person again. However, living at home with your parents can feel a bit like being in a time warp. Some days I wake up and wonder if New York was just a dream. But at 28 (almost), I am definitely not the same person I was the last time I lived here. And as my friend pointed out, "You wouldn't be where you are without NYC...a tiny piece of it is in everything you do."

Since I've been home, I've been having a green smoothie or vegetable juice every day. My parents get local vegetables from their food coop every Monday, and I love having an abundance of fresh veggies to cook with. While being home has often triggered my binge eating in the past (which I know from my clients is pretty common), this time it seems to have calmed my need to overeat. Instead I've been listening to my body and giving it what it wants (apparently a lot of vegetables). The result is finally losing those pounds I gained months ago. (Well, most of them; I've still got a few to go.) My headaches, while not gone, are at a much lower level than they've been in months. And on Tuesday, thanks to my mom, I'll be starting acupuncture to see if I can get them to go away completely. My goal for this summer was to heal my body (or at least begin to) before moving to Seattle, and while I have a long way to go, I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere.

As for my birthday? I convinced my parents we should go to P.F. Chang's to eat from their gluten-free menu with my grandma tomorrow. It's a bit of a drive, but I think it's worth it. I went there for the first time a few months back, and I loved it! No plans for Monday, but I'm thinking this birthday just wouldn't be complete without a real birthday cake. Last year I got to try Babycakes cupcakes for the first time. But this year, I'd love to make a fabulous gluten-free, dairy-free birthday cake. Because my immune/digestive system seems to have gone whacky this past year, I also need it to be nut and coconut free. Maybe I'll just call it a "Free Cake." So that's where you come in. If you know of a great gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, coconut-free cake recipe, can you pass it along? And if you simply have a cake recipe that you love, gluten-free or not, and you think it's worthy of being adapted, pass that along too. Maybe it will be my next baking project. I could look this up on the internet of course, but I always learn more from you, my dear readers, than I do from google.

xoxo

Iris

P.s. I'm leaving you with an entertaining parody of a Lady Gaga song. It has nothing to do with food, but was a great way to start my day. If you need a laugh, definitely watch this. My sister and her husband both work at High Tech High in San Diego, and the staff there made this video. Watch for my sister. She's the Madonna look-alike.

Somehow I don't think this is what my high school teachers did when the kids went home.

Hilarious! What a fun video. Your sister *does* look like Madonna (in a good way).I'm afraid I'm not great on gluten free cakes, I'm pretty new to the whole baking without gluten thing, so I hope other people have some super tasty ideas for you:) Happy birthday!

Happy early birthday Iris! I turn 24 on the 27th; its fun that we have close birthdays :) I've been at my parents home too, although only for a week, and so I can (on a very small scale) relate. I'm excited for your new beginnings too!

Unfortunately cake is not my forte, but I'll be keeping an eye on your blog to see what you came up with :P Happy birthday again!!!

Hey there~!How exciting.. a birthday coming up and some healing going on. Praying that the acupuncture will go well for you!!

Here is a link to a yummy cake I made for my daughters graduation. It's gluten free and can easily be milk free..http://imthenotsoperfecthousewife.blogspot.com/2010/05/gluten-free-wednesday-graduation-cake.html

Here is a recipe I found that is GF, dairy-free, sugar-free, almond, nut, and coconut free. Just skip the coconut on top. Ironically, it's aubree's! :) If you need a goo sub for mayo, there are many you can make or veganaise. http://livingfree.aubreecherie.com/2010/05/chocolatemayonnaisecake/comment-page-1/#comment-969

Or this recipe: http://www.glutenfreeflavorfull.com/2010/05/baking-with-brown-rice-syrup-and-gluten.htmlJust don't use coconut oil (sub another oil), and in case you don't have brown rice syrup, use more honey/agave. Oh, and of course, use some kind of dairy-free milk.

Or this one: I've been dying to try...and think you would like because it's all of those things you need free and it's sweetened with prunes. The only sub I think would just be to use another oil. :) http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2009/02/gluten-free-vegan-sugar-free-chocolate.html

Here is a chocolate cake that is GF, DF, and is sweetened with brown rice syrup and honey: http://www.glutenfreeflavorfull.com/2010/05/baking-with-brown-rice-syrup-and-gluten.html I usually top it with a German chocolate topping, but you can use any frosting.

Here is one of my family's favorite frostings that is great on anything:

Mocha Frosting:

6 T df margarine, softened6 T brewed coffee (can be day old leftover coffee. You know how I like to use up my leftovers!)6 T cocoa1 tsp. GF vanilla4 cups powdered sugar

Blend all ingredients until smooth. If it is too dry add a little more coffee, too moist, add a little sugar, too sweet, add a pinch of salt.

I hope you have a great day! Thanks for sharing the video; it was very funny.